Addiction Prevention and Treatment: Pearls from March Meeting

Weather kept many of our members from being able to attend the March meeting.  It was a great night of discussion about our role in prevention, recognition and treatment of abuse, misuse, and addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Members are encouraged to put in place protocols for prescribing controlled substances.  As part of the protocol, urine drug screen testing is strongly encouraged.  Additionally, members are encouraged to register for a login through Prescription Access in Texas.  This website allows you to generate a report which looks back 12 months at a patient's controlled substance prescription history.  

An article was shared by one of our members, Dr PJ Haylock, reminding us that controlled substance prescribing does indeed have a place in patient care.  When appropriate, prescribers are encouraged to follow protocol and allow access to needed drugs to improve quality of life.  The article is attached to this announcement under title "AJN Pain Article."  I encourage you to read it.

Finally, we were treated to a wonderful presentation by the HCMH 180 Program Team.  When abuse is recognized and your clients are ready to make a change, the 180 Program is a great resource in the Hill Country to help them do so in a safe environment.  Information from and about the program is attached to this announcement.